Post sayings or stories from Buddhist traditions which you find interesting, inspiring or useful. (Your own stories are welcome on DW, but in the Creative Writing or Personal Experience forums rather than here.)

Some years ago when I was a teenager I took an interest in Buddhism and the ball got rolling on a trip that hasn't stopped. It took me to Japan, Taiwan, Nepal and India. It sure hasn't stopped, but I decided to take things a step further.

I've hesitated a lot about the idea for a few years, mostly because of disappointment with people and a distrust of large institutions. I've seen the dark side to Buddhism as well as the good side. I've been both disenchanted with the human side, and delighted with the nice people. I've tested out the three trainings and remedied a lot of suffering in my own life. I'm still a common saṃsāric being, but for my part I've cured a lot of anguish in the mind thanks to Dharma.

However, I finally figured I might as well be an island onto myself, say to hell with it and just go for it. I've had an interest for years and often imagined myself going down this route, though I had to gradually give up a lot of desires in the process.

So I became a monk. I think I renounced the home life a long time ago, so in many ways this is just a change of clothes.

I saw your announcement earlier today on Facebook, and was very happy for you. Your robes may not make you wiser, but your already demonstrated wisdom and unique insight will be a great addition to the ordained community! As I said earlier, Anumodana!, and may you spend many years in robes cultivating your own liberation, and doing the Bodhisattva work in the world.

You look just like the picture (avatar/icon) that accompanies your posts.

Profile Picture: "The Foaming Monk"The Chinese characters are Fo (buddha) and Ming (bright). The image is of a student of Buddhism, who, imagining himself to be a monk, and not understanding the true meaning of the words takes the sound of the words literally. Likewise, People on web forums sometime seem to be foaming at the mouth. Original painting by P.Volker /used by permission.

And when the Ven Indrajala set the ordination thread in motion, the earth devas cried out: "At Dharma Wheel, the Ordained One has set in motion the unexcelled ordination that cannot be stopped by brahman or contemplative, deva, Mara or God or anyone in the cosmos." On hearing the earth devas' cry, the devas of the Four Kings' Heaven took up the cry... the devas of the Thirty-three... the Yama devas... the Tusita devas... the Nimmanarati devas... the Paranimmita-vasavatti devas... the devas of Brahma's retinue took up the cry: "At Dharma Wheel, the Ordained One has set in motion the unexcelled ordination that cannot be stopped by brahman or contemplative, deva, Mara or God or anyone in the cosmos."

Being the noob that I am Ven Indrajala, I had to ask: under which Vinaya system was the ordination performed under?

"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.Through the qualities of meditating in that way,Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."

"Absolute Truth is not an object of analytical discourse or great discriminating wisdom,It is realized through the blessing grace of the Guru and fortunate Karmic potential.Like this, mistaken ideas of discriminating wisdom are clarified."

May any merit generated by on-line discussionBe dedicated to the Ultimate Benefit of All Sentient Beings.

If you believe certain words, you believe their hidden arguments. When you believe something is right or wrong, true of false, you believe the assumptions in the words which express the arguments. Such assumptions are often full of holes, but remain most precious to the convinced.

I have embarked on this path as well, slowly but surely.. I moved to a dharma center as a full time resident a month or so ago, took my official refuge last week and am bound to take on the novice bikkhu status one of these days, once I figure some things out and know what direction I want to take!

Other people's examples of walking this path are inspiring, thank you

Disclaimer: If I have posted about something, then I obviously have no idea what I am talking about!

"There are no seperate dharma's in the Three Realms. There is only the operation of the one mind.""Whoever wishes to benefit beings ought to establish teachings that fit their capacities, expound the dharma in accordance with their capacities, and match the doctrines to them"

今以佛眼觀之佛與眾生同住解脫之床。無此無彼無二平等。Now, observing with the eye of the Buddha, both the Buddha and ordinary beings are in the same liberated state. There is neither this nor that: there is only non-duality and identity.- 空海 Kūkai in Unjigi 吽字義 The Meaning of the Letter Hūṃ - Kūkai on the Philosophy of Language by Takagi Shingen and Dreitlein Eijō_______Śrī Singha said to Padmasambhava:Since buddhas and sentient beings are inseparable and the same, it is necessary to respect all sentient beings as being on the same level with the buddhas. Can you? - translated by Malcolm N. Smith